CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Prosecutors are seeking a higher bail for the man accused in the 2025 shooting death of a 22-year-old near Franklin Street after he was arrested on vehicle burglary and drug charges last month while out on bond.
A Montgomery County grand jury indicted Jeremiah Jonnell Sanders, now 20, in February on charges of first-degree murder and employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, according to court records.
Clarksville Police responded to the shooting near 501 Franklin St. at about 10 p.m. on Oct. 1, 2025, according to previous Clarksville Now reports. Jayden Ruggles, who was found at the scene with gunshot wounds, was pronounced dead after arriving at the hospital. Detectives with the Clarksville Police Special Operations Homicide Unit arrested Sanders the following day. At that time, CPD spokesperson Scott Beaubien said the homicide was “the result of relationship-related conflicts,” according to previous reports.
While out on bond following the indictment, Sanders was arrested again on Oct. 12 for unrelated charges. Sanders has been accused of simple possession, possession of unlawful drug paraphernalia and two counts of vehicle burglary, according to court records.
On Oct. 8, the arrest warrant obtained by Clarksville Now states, a vehicle parked at the Ashley Furniture store was broken into and over $600 in cash was stolen. The warrant alleges that on the night of Oct. 9, Sanders entered a vehicle in the same parking lot and “removed a bag that contained various items.” The warrant states some of those items were found the next morning on the property of a nearby business. “Video at the location where the vehicle was parked showed Mr. Sanders wearing a black hoodie with letters on the front in an arched pattern and red pants when he entered the vehicle,” the warrant alleged.
On the night of Oct. 12, a separate arrest warrant obtained by Clarksville Now alleges, Sanders was seen on video entering another parked car at the Ashley Furniture store. It further alleges he was “pulling on the door handles of three other vehicles within the frame of the video.” A witness called the authorities after observing the door handles of several vehicles being pulled, according to the warrant. It further alleges Sanders was in the same clothing and was wearing his ankle monitor when he was arrested.
While searching Sanders, the warrant alleges, officers located a “gold THC vape” along with a plastic bag containing roughly 6.9 grams of a substance that field tested positive for THC. “Officers also located a pack of rolling papers and a green and white bottle with green leafy residue,” the warrant alleged.
Assistant District Attorney Chris West, prosecuting the murder case, told Clarksville Now the state has filed a motion to increase Sanders’ bail, and that is set to be heard next week. Court records indicate that motion is scheduled for Nov. 12 at the Montgomery County Courts Center.
Clarksville Now has attempted to reach defense attorney Mark Scruggs, representing Sanders in the murder case, for comment.
According to court records, Sanders has a trial hearing in General Sessions regarding the new charges scheduled for Nov. 18 at the Montgomery County Courts Center.
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